Led illumination of water output on a boat and fluid separator

ABSTRACT

A marine illumination system is provided for illumination of outlet fluids pumped out of watercraft, including a watercraft motor and bilge pump. A fluid stream from the bilge pump or watercraft motor is illuminated by a light source. The light source can be a light emitting diode.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to marine lighting but more specifically to lighting the water output of a bilge pump or outboard motor.

Description of Related Art

The output water stream of an outboard motor is critical to the cooling of the engine and it is common for a watercraft operator to routinely glance at the output water stream to ensure that the engines water pump is functional. In fact, this outlet stream is called the tell-tale stream because it serves as an indicator that the engine's pump is working correctly. An issue arises in low light and no light conditions because the water craft operator no longer has the ability to view the tell-tale stream rendering it useless. Currently, a watercraft operator would commonly use a hand held light to confirm that the tell-tale stream is operating as expected. This results in the watercraft operator taking a hand off the steering controls as he points a hand held light at the engine to confirm the tell-tale stream.

A similar issue exists with a conventional bilge pump inside the watercraft. The bilge pump is used to pump water out that collects in the bottom of a boat. It is difficult to confirm that a bilge pump is working without verifying the exit stream. Conventional bilge pumps have display signed of being operational with alarms, such as having the pump vibrate or providing an audible noise. However, a defective pump can display those same signs. Therefore, viewing of the conventional pump may not be adequate for detecting a defective pump. Additionally, the bilge pump is typically difficult to view since it is located in the lowest point of the hull. It is desirable to provide a device to illuminate the fluid streams exiting a watercraft to enable operators to easily and expeditiously verify functioning of the watercraft engine's pump or the bilge pump in low light and no light conditions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a marine illumination system that can illuminate output streams from marine apparatus of a watercraft. In one embodiment, a water pump output stream from an outboard engine of the watercraft is illuminated. Light from the marine illumination system can illuminate the fluid stream before the stream exits the outboard engine enclosure or the watercraft. In addition or alternatively, the marine illumination system can also be used to illuminate an output stream from a bilge pump.

In accordance with the present invention, a marine illumination system is provided to aid in confirming the operation of respective pumps. The marine illumination system includes a light source. In one embodiment, the light source is an electrical light source that can be powered by an existing watercraft electrical system. The marine illumination system can illuminate fluid of respective streams by having the fluid flow around the light source and the light source is pointed in the direction of flow. In one embodiment, light is provided in as near a laminar flow as possible and not reducing the area of the flow of the fluid at any point, thereby providing minimal pressure drop within the associated pump.

The marine illumination system can be wired to an existing circuit of the engine in order to power the marine illumination system when the watercraft engine is running. In one embodiment, the marine illumination system can be wired to an electrical circuit of a bilge pump to allow the marine illumination system to be powered whenever the bilge pump is powered on. Alternatively, the marine illumination system can be operated by a manual switch to allow an operator to select activation of the marine illumination system.

In one embodiment, input fluid into the marine illumination system comes from an outlet of the bilge pump or an outboard motor. In this embodiment, the marine illumination system is separate from the pump or motor. The marine illumination system can be retrofitted to a conventional bilge pump or watercraft motor. The marine illumination system can be permanently or removably mounted to a shell of an outboard motor or a hull of a water craft.

Alternatively, the light source is embedded into an outlet port of a watercraft or watercraft motor. The light source is positioned in close proximity to an outlet of the marine illumination system to allow the light to travel in the direction of the fluid exiting the marine illumination system and provide maximum brightness for the light. The illumination of the fluid stream exiting the watercraft assists in providing visual confirmation that the bilge pump or watercraft motor is operating correctly. The illuminated fluid stream can be aesthetically pleasing and add an interesting design feature to the watercraft.

In one embodiment, a watercraft motor includes the light source embedded in an outlet. The watercraft motor can be an outboard engine. The outboard engine often pumps water in from the surrounding body of water and out of the engine to aid in cooling the engine. Constant water flow is critical for engine cooling and engine health. Illuminating the water outlet of the watercraft motor provides visual confirmation that the watercraft motor is operating correctly. The invention will be more fully described by reference to the following drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the marine illumination system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the marine illumination system of the present invention in an alternate embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the marine illumination system of the present invention in combination with a bilge pump and a watercraft outboard motor.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the marine illumination system of the present invention incorporated into a watercraft outboard motor.

FIG. 5 is a photograph of a high pressure small diameter outlet from an outboard motor, with the water stream illuminated by the marine illumination system of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a photograph of a larger diameter outlet from a bilge pump with the water stream illuminated by the marine illumination device of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in greater detail to a preferred embodiment of the invention, an example of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numerals will be used throughout the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of marine illumination system 10 in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. Housing 12 includes inlet 14 and outlet 15. Marine apparatus 16 includes fluid source 17 which pumps fluid 18. Inlet 14 of housing 12 is in fluid communication with fluid 18. Fluid 18 flows in housing 12 from inlet 14 to outlet 15 through conduit 19. For example, fluid 18 can be water. In this embodiment, conduit 19 includes inlet 14 coupled or integral to outlet 15 through junction section 20. Inlet 14 is angled from outlet 15 in junction section 20. For example, inlet 14 can be angled at an Angle A₁ range of about 90 degrees to about 120 degrees from outlet 15. In an alternate embodiment, inlet 14 is positioned substantially parallel to outlet 15 as shown in FIG. 2. For example, inlet 14 can be angled at an angle A₁ in the range of about 120 to about 180 degrees.

Light source 30 is positioned in the flow of fluid 18 in the direction D₁ towards outlet 15. Preferably, light source 30 is positioned between inlet 14 and outlet 15 so as not to reduce the area flow of fluid 18 within conduit 19 and to maintain substantially laminar flow of fluid 18 within conduit 19. Light source 30 can be a light-emitting diode.

The light-emitting diode can emit one or more colors. Example colors include red, blue, green, purple, orange and yellow.

Fluid source 17 can be bilge pump 50 as shown in FIG. 3. Fluid 18 can flow from bilge pump 50. Bilge pump outlet 52 of bilge pump 50 is in fluid flow communication with inlet 14. Fluid 18 from bilge pump outlet 52 is received at inlet 14. Light source 30 can be powered by bilge pump power source 54.

Fluid source 17 can be from watercraft motor 60. Fluid 18 can flow by pressurization from watercraft motor 60. Fluid 18 is received from outlet 62 of watercraft motor 60. Light source 30 is powered by watercraft motor power source 54.

Housing 12 can be permanently or removably attached to watercraft hull 70. Alternatively, housing 12 can permanently or removably mounted to watercraft motor 60 as shown in FIG. 3. Suitable mountings for housing 12 can include brackets, being supported by a plumbing connection, integral as a part of a water outlet, secured to watercraft hull 70 of watercraft motor 60 using a bonding compound or physical fastener.

In an alternate embodiment, light source 30 can be embedded in outlet 100 of watercraft motor 60 as shown in FIG. 4. Light source 30 is positioned in the flow of fluid 18 in the direction D₂ towards outlet 100.

FIG. 5 is a photograph of a high pressure small diameter outlet from an outboard motor, with the water stream illuminated by the marine illumination system of the present invention. This condition is common for an outboard motor at above idle speeds.

For example, in this embodiment, outlet 15 can have a diameter in the range of about 0.1 inches to about 0.25 inches.

FIG. 6 is a photograph of a larger diameter outlet from a bilge pump with the water stream illuminated by the marine illumination device of the present invention.

For example, in this embodiment, outlet 15 can have a diameter in the range of about 0.375 inches to about 1 inch.

It is to be understood that the above-described embodiments are illustrative of only a few of the many possible specific embodiments, which can represent applications of the principles of the invention. Numerous and varied other arrangements can be readily devised in accordance with these principles by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A marine illumination system comprising: a housing; an inlet of the housing adapted to be in fluid communication with a fluid from a fluid source of a marine apparatus; an outlet of the housing downstream of the inlet; and a light source positioned between the outlet and the inlet, the light source adapted for directing light in a direction of flow of the fluid received at the inlet and flowing downstream to the outlet for illuminating the fluid exiting the outlet.
 2. The marine illumination system of claim 1 wherein the inlet and the outlet are coupled or integral to one another to form a conduit, the light source is positioned between the inlet and the outlet so as not to reduce an area of flow of the fluid within the conduit.
 3. The marine illumination system of claim 2 wherein substantially laminar flow of the fluid is maintained within the conduit.
 4. The marine illumination system of claim 1 wherein the inlet and the outlet are coupled or integral to one another at a junction section, the inlet is angled from the outlet in the junction section.
 5. The marine illumination system of claim 4 wherein the inlet is angled at a range of about 90 degrees to about 180 degrees from the outlet.
 6. The marine illumination system of claim 1 wherein the light source is a light emitting diode.
 7. The marine illumination system of claim 1 further comprising: a mounting associated with said housing, said mounting being adapted to permanently or removably attach said housing to a watercraft.
 8. The marine illumination system of claim 1 wherein the marine apparatus is a bilge pump, a bilge pump outlet of the bilge pump being in fluid communication with the inlet.
 9. The marine illumination system of claim 8, wherein the light source is powered by a bilge pump power source.
 10. The marine illumination system of claim 1 wherein the marine apparatus is a watercraft motor, a watercraft motor outlet of the watercraft motor being in fluid communication with the inlet.
 11. The marine illumination system of claim 10 wherein the light source is powered by the watercraft motor.
 12. A marine illumination system comprising: a light source adjacent an outlet of a watercraft motor or a bilge pump, said watercraft motor or said bilge pump including a fluid source in fluid communication with the outlet, the light source adapted for directing light in a direction of flow of a fluid from the fluid source for illuminating the fluid exiting the outlet.
 13. The marine illumination system of claim 12 wherein substantially laminar flow of the fluid is maintained within the outlet.
 14. The marine illumination system of claim 12 wherein the light source is a light emitting diode.
 15. The marine illumination system of claim 12 wherein the light source is embedded in the outlet.
 16. The marine illumination system of claim 12 wherein the light source is powered by the watercraft motor.
 17. A marine illumination system for use in a watercraft motor, the marine illumination system comprising: a light source adjacent an outlet of the watercraft motor, said watercraft motor including a fluid source in fluid communication with the outlet, the light source adapted for directing light in a direction of flow of a fluid from the fluid source for illuminating the fluid exiting the outlet.
 18. The marine illumination system of claim 17 wherein substantially laminar flow of the fluid is maintained within the outlet.
 19. The marine illumination system of claim 17 wherein the light source is a light emitting diode.
 20. The marine illumination system of claim 12 wherein the light source is powered by the watercraft motor. 